Fuel tank lock



Aug. 2, 1938. F. E. SCHNEIDER 2,125,318

:EUEILI TANK LOCK Filed Deb. 31, 1954 Mm mange Patented Aug. 2, 1938 UNITEDfsTATl-s PATENT OFFICE t Fred E. Schneider, Grand Junction, Colo.

Application December 31, 1934, Serial No. 759,974

p 12 Claims.

This invention relates to fuel tank locking caps, and has for its object the production ofy a simple and efficient lock for fuel tanks of automobiles and other vehicles the lock being so constructed as to prevent the removal of the cap by unauthorized parties and therebyiprevent the syphoning of gasoline-from the tank.

Another object of this invention is the production of a simple and eflicient means for securing the cap to the tank and preventing the removal o f the cap except by the insertion of an authorized key, and the proper manipulation of the cap upon the neck of the tank.

Afurther object of this invention is the production of a simple and eicient fuel tank locking cap having an anti-splash plate mounted therein to prevent the splashing of the contents of the tank out through the filling opening.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear throughout the following specification and claims.

In the drawing:-

Figure 1 is a horizontal sectional View through the neck of a tank showing the cap in' bottom 25 plan View; a

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 2--2 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 4 4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view showing the cap in its removed position;

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken on 35 line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the anti-splash plate;

Figure 8 is a detail perspective view ofthe locking member; p

Figure 9 is a detail perspective View of the abutment plate which supports the coil spring upon the barrel carried by the cap;

Figure 10 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line Ill-I0 of Figure 4; and

Figure 1l is Van enlarged vertical sectional view through the lower end of the barrel which is carried by the cap showing the manner of supporting the plate which engages the lower end of the coil spring carried by the barrel.

By referring to the drawing, it will be seen that I 5 designates the neck of the tank which may be of any suitable or desired structure, the neck I5 being provided with an inwardly extending flange I6, which. flange I6 is provided with a depending annular rib along itsinner periphery indicatedby the numeral I1. This flange I6 is provided with notches I8 arranged in diametrically disposed relation for the purpose hereinafter described.

A cap I 9 is adapted to i'it snugly over the neck I5 and comprises a substantially cup-like structure having an upwardly extending dome 2D which upwardly extending dome 2|] is provided with an integral depending barrel 2| (note particularly Figures 2 and 4). Within the barrel 2| is mounted a conventional tumbler lock 22 of any wellknown structure, and it should be understood that no attempt is made to illustrate or describe the particular type of barrel lock since any form of barrel lock may be employed to be operated with a suitable key 23 without departing from the spirit of the invention.

A locking member 24 is fitted over the barrel 2|, the barrel 2| being shaped to properly t theirregularly shaped slot 25 and thereby anchor the locking member 24 against independent rotation' upon the barrel 2|. This locking member 24 is provided with a pair of oppositely arranged downwardly inclined legs 26 which terminate in laterally extending feet 21. This locking member 24 is supported upon a coil spring 28, which coil spring 28 is supported at its lower end by a supporting plate 29 which supporting plate is also shaped to t the irregular contour of the barrel 2|. The plate 29 is anchored against downward movement by means of a wire 30 which is seated in the channel 3| extending around the lower end of the barrel 2|, and this wire 30 is held within the channel 3| by means of the depending lugs 32, the lugs 32 preventing the expansion of the wire 30 and preventing the wire from jumping out of the notch or channel 3|. The lugs 32 are struck inwardly at a suicient distance to overhang the sides of the wire 30 and the supporting plate 29 around the periphery of the irregularly shaped aperture 33 rest snugly upon the upper face of the wire 3|l (note particularly Figure 11). Through the medium of the spring 28 it will be noted that the locking member 24 is yieldably supported. l

The ends of the supportingrplate 29 are extended as at 29a to t under the laterally extending feet 21 and thereby brace these feet when the device is in a locked position.

Secured to the lower end of the cylinder lock 22 is an anchoring plate 34 which constitutes an anti-splash plate. I'he anchoring plate 34 is riveted or otherwise securely lfastened to the lower end of the cylinder lock 22. This anchoring plate 34 is providedwithlaterally extending substantially diametrically arranged arms35 and is provided with upwardly extending reinforcing flanges 36 which extend partially around the periphery of the plate 34 providing open portions 31. The flanges 36 extend upon opposite sides of the respective arms 35 and may or may not extend across the respective ends of the arms, as indicated at 38, the portions 38 of the flange may have notches 39 for the purpose of receiving the laterally extending feet 25 of the locking member and holding the locking member 24 and the anchoring plate 34 in nested relation.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The cap I9 is placed upon the neck I5 of the tank in such a position as to extend the arms 35 of the locking plate 34 through the notches I8 of the flange I6. It should be noted that in this operation, the laterally extending feet 21 of the locking member 24 are housed within the arms 35.v Since the arms 35 extend through the notches I8, the anchoring plate 34 through the medium of the flanges 36 will be held against rotation. By inserting the key 23 into the cylinder lock 22, the cylinder lock 22 will be unlocked from the barrel 2| thereby permitting the barrel 2| to rotate with respect to the cylinder lock 22, at which time the laterally extending feet 21 of the locking member 24 will be moved out of the arms 35 and away from the notches I8 of the flange I6. the spring28 forcing the locking member 24 upwardly whereby the laterally extending feet 21 will firmly engage the downwardly extending annular rib I1 of the flange I6 and hold the cap I8 against accidental or unauthorized removal. As shown in Figures 2, 4 and 5, a suitable gasket 40 may be employed to rest upon the flange I6.

When it is desired to remove the cap I9, the cap I9 lis rotated in a reverse direction to that of locking, and by rotating the cap in a direction to cause the feet 21 to be moved into the arms 35 of the anchoring plate 34 and bringing the feet 21 and the arms 35 into alignment with the notches I8, the cap may be easily lifted outwardly and oif the neck I5.

It should be understood that the locking member 24 is movable with the cap I9 when it is rotated, and the cylinder lock is unlocked and the anchoring member 34 is locked against rotation due to the fact that the arms 35 will be held against rotation by fitting in the notches I8 of the flange I6.

Certain detail changes in the mechanical conv struction, combination and arrangement of parts may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention so long as such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Havingrdescribed the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A locking closure adapted to be applied to a container which has an inturned flange with openings therein, including a locking mechanism, a cap supporting said locking mechanism, said locking mechanism comprising a cylinder mounted within said cap and adapted to be actuated by a key, an anchoring member carried by said cylinder and comprising an anti-splash plate having laterally extending arms, said anchoring member having angularly extending flanges for reinforcing the same, the flanges of the anchoring member having cut-away portions, a locking member carried by said capl and having depending legs, the legs being provided with laterally extending feet adapted to be swung within the cut-away portions of the flanges of said anchoring member, whereby said laterally extending feet may be moved into and out of engagement with the inwardly turned flange of the container for preventing the unauthorized removal of the cap from the container.

2. A locking closure for a fuel tank which has an inturned flange with openings therein, including a locking mechanism, a cap supporting said locking mechanism, said locking mechanism comprising a cylinder mounted within said cap and adapted to be actuated by a key, an anchoring member carried by said cylinder and comprising an anti-splash plate having laterally extending arms, said anchoring member having flanges for reinforcing the same, the flanges of the anchoring member having cut-away portions, a locking member carried by said capA and having depending legs, the legs being provided with feet adapted to be swung within the cut-away portions of the flanges of said anchoring member and into and out of the arms of said anchoring plate, whereby said feet may be moved into and out of engagement with the inwardly turned flange of the tank for preventing the unauthorized removal of the cap from the neck, and a spring for supporting said locking member for holding the feet of the locking member in firm engagement with the inwardly turned flange of said fuel tank.

3. A locking closure for a fuel tank which has an inturned flange with openings therein, including a locking mechanism, a cap supporting said locking mechanism, said locking mechanism comprising a cylinder mounted within said cap and adapted to be actuated by a key, an anchoring member carried by said cylinder and comprising an anti-splash plate having extending arms, said anchoring member having flanges for reinforcing the same, alocking member carried by said cap and having depending legs adapted to be swung within the said anchoring member and into and out of the arms of said anchoring plate, whereby said locking member may be moved into and out of engagement with the inturned flange of said fuel tank for preventing the unauthorized removal of the cap from the tank, a spring for supporting said locking member for holding it in firm engagement with the inturned turned flange of said tank, said cap having a barrel for supporting said cylinder over which said spring is tted, a plate anchored upon the lower end of I said barrel and supporting the lower end of said spring, a supporting member engaging said last mentioned plate, the barrel having a channel for receiving the supporting member, and said last mentioned plate having means for retaining said supporting member within said channel.

4. A locking closure adapted to be applied to a container which has an inturned flange with an opening therein, including a cap, a yieldable locking member carried by said cap, a lock carried by said cap, said lock being provided with a rotating cylinder adapted to be locked in and out of engagement with said cap, an anchoring member carried by said rotating cylinder and provided with means for fitting in the opening in said flange for anchoring said anchoring member against rotation, said locking member being secured to said cap and movable therewith and provided with means adapted to be brought under the edge of said flange for preventing the unauthorized removal of said cap, and said locking member being adapted to be brought into registering engagement and alignment with said opening in said flange when said lock is unlocked for permitting the removal of said cap.

5. A locking closure adapted to be applied to a container which has an inturned flange with an opening therein, including a cap, a locking member carried by said cap and provided with xed fingers adapted to extend through said opening and adapted to extend under said flange, a locking mechanism carried by said cap, said locking mechanism comprising a rotating cylinder, an anchoring member carried by said cylinder p-rovided with means to rest within said opening, the unlocking of said locking mechanism permitting the rotation of said cap and said locking member into alignment with said opening, whereby said cap may be removed.

6. A locking closure adapted to be applied to a container which has an inturned ange with an opening therein, including a locking mechanism,

a cap supporting said locking mechanism, a rotating cylinder mounted Within said cap and adapted to be actuated by a key, a member carried by said cylinder anchoring in said opening,

Vand a locking member provided with arms adapted to extend under said flange for preventing the removal of said cap, and said lock permitting4 the rotation of said cap and said locking member for the purpose of bringing said locking member into alignment with said opening whereby said cap may be removed.

'7. A locking closure adapted to be applied to a container which has an inturned ange with an opening therein, including a locking mechanism, a cap supporting said locking mechanism, a rotating cylinder mounted within said cap, a member carried by said cylinder anchoring in said opening, a locking member provided with extensions adapted to extend under said ange for preventing the removal of said cap from said neck, the unlockingof said locking mechanism merely requiring the insertion of the proper key into said cylinder permitting the rotation of said cap and said locking member for the purpose of bringing said locking member into alignment with said opening whereby said cap may be removed, and means for Supporting said locking member.

8. A locking closure adapted to be applied to a container which has an inturned flange with openings therein, including a locking mechanism, a cap supporting said locking mechanism, said locking mechanism comprising a cylinder mounted Within said cap and adapted to be actuated by a key, an anchoring member carried by said cylinder and comprising a disc having extending arms adapted to fit in said openings and to engage the sides thereof for anchoring said cap against rotation when said key is removed from said cylinder, a locking member carried by said ,cap and having extending legs adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with the inturned ange for preventing the unauthorized removal of the cap.

9. A locking closure adapted to be applied to a container which has an inturned flange with openings therein, including a locking mechanism, a cap supporting said' locking mechanism, said locking mechanism comprising a cylinder mounted Within said cap and adapted to be actuated by a key, an anchoring member carried by said cylinder and comprising a plate provided with extending means adapted to enter said openings and to engage the sides thereof for anchoring itself against rotation when said key is removed from said cylinder, a locking member secured to said cap and movable therewith, said locking member being provided with extending feet adapted to be moved under the surface of said flange for preventing the unauthorized removal of said cap, and means for supporting said locking member for holding the feet of said locking member in iirm engagement with the inturned ange, the unlocking of said lockingmechanism merely requiring the insertion of said key into said cylinder permitting the rotation of said cap and said locking member and allowing said locking member to be brought into alignment with said openings whereby said cap may be removed and said key need not be turned to unlock said locking mechanism and to remove said cap.

10. A locking cap for attachment to lling necks of tanks comprising a body having a depending hub, radially extending arms rigidly connected with the hub for movement under the cam flanges of the filling neck, notch-engaging lingers movably mounted on the hub, and keyoperated means for locking said fingers and the body against relative movement.

11. A locking cap for attachment to lling necks of tanks comprising a body having a depending hub, radially extending arms rigidly connected with the hub for movement under the cam anges of the lling neck, notch engaging ngers rotatably mounted on the hub, and key-operated means for locking said ngers and the body against relative rotation.

12. The combination with the filling neck of a tank having an annular depending ange with notches thereon, of a cap mechanism for said neck including a body having an axially disposed hub, radially extending locking arms carried on said hub non-rotatably thereof and portions of said arms adapted to pass through said notches and movable under said annular depending ilange upon rotation of said body, radially extending fingers rotatably mounted on said hub and adapted to engage said notches, and means for locking said body and said radially extending fingers against relative rotation when the arms are under the ange of the filling neck and out of alinement with the last-mentioned fingers. 

